Planting Guidelines
Best practices for choosing a spot and caring for a sapling through its first two years.
1 Choosing the spot
- Pick a location with the right sun exposure for the species (most natives want full sun, 6+ hours).
- Keep at least 3 to 5 m clearance from buildings, walls, drains, septic tanks, and underground utilities; more for large-canopy trees.
- Avoid spots directly under overhead power lines.
- Check drainage; if water pools for more than a few hours after rain, pick somewhere else or raise the bed.
- Leave space for the mature canopy and root spread, not the sapling size.
2 Best time to plant
- In Bengaluru, early monsoon (June to early August) is ideal so roots establish before summer.
- Plant in the evening or on an overcast day to reduce transplant shock.
3 Preparing the pit
- Dig a pit roughly 2 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft (larger for bigger saplings).
- Let the open pit weather in the sun for a few days if possible.
- Refill with a mix of topsoil, well-rotted compost or cow manure, and a handful of neem cake; skip chemical fertiliser at planting.
4 Planting the sapling
- Water the sapling in its bag or pot an hour before planting.
- Remove the polybag carefully without breaking the root ball.
- Place so the root collar (where stem meets roots) sits level with the surrounding ground, never buried deeper.
- Backfill in layers, pressing gently to remove air pockets; don't stamp hard.
- Form a shallow basin around the trunk to hold water.
5 Support and protection
- Stake with two bamboo poles tied loosely with soft cloth in a figure-8; never tie tight against the bark.
- Install a tree guard (bamboo, mesh, or recycled material) against cattle, dogs, and accidental damage.
- Mulch a 2 to 3 inch layer of dry leaves or straw around the base, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk.
6 Watering
- Deep-water immediately after planting.
- First month: every 2 to 3 days if no rain.
- Months 2 to 6: twice a week.
- Year 2: once a week in dry months; reduce as the tree establishes.
- Water early morning or evening; aim at the root zone, not the leaves.
7 First-year care
- Remove weeds in a 1 ft radius regularly; they compete for water and nutrients.
- Refresh mulch every couple of months.
- Inspect monthly for pests (mealybugs, leaf-cutter caterpillars) and fungal spots; treat early with neem oil spray.
- Don't prune in year 1 unless removing broken or dead branches.
- Loosen or remove stakes after 12 to 18 months so the trunk develops strength.
8 Long-term (year 2+)
- Light formative pruning in winter to shape canopy and remove crossing branches.
- Top-dress with compost once a year, just before monsoon.
- Reduce watering progressively; a well-established native should survive on rainfall by year 3.
! What to avoid
- Planting too deep (most common killer).
- Over-watering or waterlogging.
- Tying stakes tight or leaving them on too long; they girdle the trunk.
- Piling mulch against the trunk ("mulch volcano"); causes rot.
- Using fresh manure or strong chemical fertiliser at planting.
- Planting invasive or unsuitable species like Eucalyptus, Subabul, or Acacia auriculiformis in residential areas.